Goku's Name & Plothole

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DBZ Macky
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Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by DBZ Macky » Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:38 am

We know that his real name is Kakarot. But what about when Dragon Ball Episode 79 aired in Japan for the first time? Nobody knew about that.
It's an anime-exclusive episode that takes place before the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai.
Ginkaku and Kinkaku's gourd sucks in anyone who doesn't respond when the person's name is spoken.

One of the brothers says "Son Goku" and Goku, being Goku, doesn't respond. This in turn, leaves him trapped inside the gourd.
Wouldn't this be a plot-hole? How would you explain this without using the obvious out-of-universe excuse?
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successoroffate
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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by successoroffate » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:40 am

Did they try calling any other person by a different name instead of their real name and the gourd didn't respond? Because, I think the Gourd activates only when a person does not respond to be called on by name. Regardless if the name is Kakaroto or not, once you failed to respond being called on then down you go.

By the way, I just saw the episode again in Spanish (latino) and it's so funny seeing Goku trying to trick "Oro and Plata" (that's their name in Spanish) into failing to respond to their names:

Oro-Plata-Plata-Oro-Oro-Plata!
Big Green: Do whateveryoulike, Ghos
Broly: haha He calls me a goohst, but IMMMD DA DEVVVVAAALLL! RAHAHAHAHA!
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DBZ Macky
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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by DBZ Macky » Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:17 am

successoroffate wrote:Did they try calling any other person by a different name instead of their real name and the gourd didn't respond? Because, I think the Gourd activates only when a person does not respond to be called on by name. Regardless if the name is Kakaroto or not, once you failed to respond being called on then down you go.

By the way, I just saw the episode again in Spanish (latino) and it's so funny seeing Goku trying to trick "Oro and Plata" (that's their name in Spanish) into failing to respond to their names:

Oro-Plata-Plata-Oro-Oro-Plata!
Well no, but they also tried to capture a baby, yet they needed to know the baby's name to do it. So I definitely think they need the real name of the person in order for the gourd to work. I wonder if it'd work on a nameless person.

The "Ginkaku-Kinkaku" tongue twister from the original Japanese version was pretty hilarious too.
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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by Beek King » Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:20 pm

It's magic, they ain't gotta explain shit.
Do whatever you like, ghost.

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successoroffate
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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by successoroffate » Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:30 pm

DBZ Macky wrote:
successoroffate wrote:Did they try calling any other person by a different name instead of their real name and the gourd didn't respond? Because, I think the Gourd activates only when a person does not respond to be called on by name. Regardless if the name is Kakaroto or not, once you failed to respond being called on then down you go.

By the way, I just saw the episode again in Spanish (latino) and it's so funny seeing Goku trying to trick "Oro and Plata" (that's their name in Spanish) into failing to respond to their names:

Oro-Plata-Plata-Oro-Oro-Plata!
Well no, but they also tried to capture a baby, yet they needed to know the baby's name to do it. So I definitely think they need the real name of the person in order for the gourd to work. I wonder if it'd work on a nameless person.

The "Ginkaku-Kinkaku" tongue twister from the original Japanese version was pretty hilarious too.
Just saw the bit in Japanese, Definitely funnier!
Big Green: Do whateveryoulike, Ghos
Broly: haha He calls me a goohst, but IMMMD DA DEVVVVAAALLL! RAHAHAHAHA!
-----
Trunks: "Dhe computer selffishy intesnafiy dosuementos."
Android 13: Yum Boy
-----
Vegeta: The Legendary Warrior of SpaZe.

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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by Captain Strawberry » Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:18 pm

I don't believe in your birth name defining what your real name is
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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by nickzambuto » Wed Mar 01, 2017 8:01 pm

A name is fairly arbitrary if you think about it in these terms. Why should his saiyan name have priority over his earthling name?

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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by Pantalones » Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:19 am

Well no, but they also tried to capture a baby, yet they needed to know the baby's name to do it. So I definitely think they need the real name of the person in order for the gourd to work.
One's "real name" is not necessarily the one they were assigned at birth. In the case of a baby, that's the only name they have at this point (a baby doesn't have the intelligence required to choose what name they'd like to go by), so it's kind of an odd loophole sort of situation. But as for Goku... I seriously doubt he ever considered Kakarrot to be his "real name," it was only his "Saiyan name" -- basically, something weird that Vegeta and Raditz kept calling him instead of his real name. Even after he accepts his "Saiyan-ness" he still always introduces himself as Son Goku. Goku doesn't even know that he was once called Kakarrot at this point, he only goes by the name Son Goku... so of course that would be the name they'd use for him.

(How it'd work with a truly nameless person is an interesting thought, though. Would they have to say "hey, you" or something since a proper name doesn't exist? XD)

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Re: Goku's Name & Plothole

Post by Polyphase Avatron » Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:44 am

Maybe it works by the name they identify themselves by
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